Defendants in Vanderschoot Murder Plead Guilty

Both men charged in the 2003 murder of 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot have reached plea agreements with prosecutors.Daniel Bezemer, Vanderschoot's former boyfriend, pleaded guilty to first degree murder in a hearing Friday morning. He faces a sentence of 25 to life in prison.Brandon Fernandez, 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday, just a week before his trial was set to begin. He faces a sentence of 15 years to life. Both are scheduled to be sentenced March 9.Prosecutors believe Fernandez and Bezemer, who were roommates, killed Vanderschoot on the night of September 1, 2003, then buried her body on a hill in Applegate, northeast of Auburn.Fernandez led investigators to Vanderschoot's body about two weeks later. Because her remains were so badly decomposed, an autopsy was unable to determine the cause of the girl's death. However, prosecutors believe Vanderschoot was strangled and that she may have been alive when she was buried. Prosecutors said Bezemer was jealous of Vanderschoot's interest in another man and even recorded telephone conversations between the two. According to prosecutors, Fernandez disliked Vanderschoot because of her intrusions in the apartment he shared with Bezemer and agreed to go along with the murder plan. Members of Vanderschoot's family were in court this morning and appeared to be relieved when they heard Bezemer admit his guilt. Vanderschoot's mother wept when he entered his guilty plea."[We have] been waiting for it, but it was still hard," said Lynnette Vanderschoot. "He was a part of our lives for two and a half years, and I feel sorry for him, but it still doesn't bring Justine back."Vanderschoot's father said the family is grateful they don't have to endure a trial. "We didn't have to drag a lot of our friends and family through court sessions and hearings," said Don Vanderschoot. "It's a good closure for us. It wasn't a big dog and pony show, and we're happy with that."